Description
PREOWNED - $6000 LIST!- FULLY TESTED - SILVER - INCLUDES ORIGINAL BOX/PACKING, MANUAL, REMOTE, POWER CABLE Design DirectStream converts every input signal, both PCM and DSD, to single-bit, high sample rate 20X DSD signal. Use of a FPGA rather than an off the shelf DAC chip provides immense processing power, resulting in complete lack of digital glare, and allows the owner to download OS updates as they are released. Application DirectStream is the heart of a reference quality digital audio based system. It handles all PCM sources up to 352.8 kHz, and DSD 64 and 128 (USB and I2S) and DSD256 (I2S only, with the Sunlight OS). Its zero-loss digital volume control allows it to be used as a preamplifier, directly feeding a power amp. Include the Network Bridge to stream Qobuz, Tidal, and Spotify. Roon ready. Class A+ Stereophile rated DirectStream DAC converts any digital input format from CDs, servers, and streamers, into a pure DSD format and outputs near-perfect analog directly to your power amplifier or preamplifier. Whatever the format, sample rate, or the medium, DirectStream provides a pure output that fulfills the promise of high-resolution analog performance from digital sources. DirectStream is the work of digital audio genius, Ted Smith. Unlike conventional DACs that rely upon off the shelf DAC chips, DirectStream is hand written onto a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). This allows far more precise and accurate processing of the digital signal, resulting in significantly better sound quality and upgradeability in the field. Every six months or so, Ted Smiths continual research into digital audio reproduction nets another breakthrough in performance. DirectStream DAC owners are given it free in the form of a downloadable upgrade. In this way, DirectStream owners can be assured that their unit will continue to improve over time, and never become obsolete. Hear what’s been missing in your music for all these years. If you know the sound of music and instruments, and want to hear what’s been missing on your discs, then this DAC is right for you. Converting the ones and zeros of digital audio into music we cannot distinguish between live or recorded is an art. Most of today’s sophisticated DACs are IC based instruments using off-the-shelf-chips that rely upon Multi-bit Sigma-Delta functions to process the incoming digital audio. While these are relatively simple to design and produce, they rarely give the best sonic results. DirectStream takes a different approach by first converting all digital audio signals into a purer form of digital audio known as DSD. DSD is a far more analog-like encoding and decoding process than the classic CD based PCM. In fact, most modern A/D converters used to make recordings are DSD based already. DirectStream takes both PCM and DSD, upsamples the data and converts to single-bit DSD and then outputs pure music regardless of input format for the data. The results of this design can be heard in increased musical information presented to the listener at every opportunity. When you listen to DirectStream you never are accosted by added bright, hard glare in the music as happens with many active designs. Instead, clean, pure music flows from the DirectStream directly to your preamplifier or power amplifier. Most modern DACs use some form of active tube or solid state output stage to amplify, filter and drive the DACs output. DirectStream takes a different approach: passive. In one of the simplest, elegant and musically correct executions of an output stage, high-speed class A video amplifiers are used as the final switch feeding a high-performance passive audio output transformer. The transformer is specially designed to act as both the galvanic isolation between the DAC and the outside world as well as the primary low pass filter required to present a perfect, low distortion, low noise output signal that is fed directly into the DirectStreams zero-loss volume control. Designer Smith perfected a 100% bit-perfect volume and balance control that’s built into DirectStream, enabling users to control the output level when feeding directly into a power amplifier or preamplifier. The ability to eliminate the preamplifier in the system without any resolution loss is a major benefit to DirectStream’s outstanding musical performance. Imagine going to a recording studio and listening to a master tape of any recording made. This is the experience DirectStream provides its owners who enjoy a renewed sense of enjoyment and discovery when listening to everything in their library: CD’s, downloads, DSD. Features100% DSD BASED D-A CONVERTERUPGRADABLE VIA SOFTWARE RELEASESVOLUME, BALANCE CONTROL BUILT INUPSAMPLES PCM AND DSD TO 20x DSD RATEDXD SUPPORTPASSIVE TRANSFORMER COUPLED OUTPUTIMPROVES IMAGING + SOUNDSTAGEDIRECT SIGNAL PASS WITH 1x MASTER CLOCKHANDWRITTEN FILTERS, PROCESSORS, SAMPLERSIMMUNE TO OUTSIDE SOURCE JITTER PROBLEMSINCREASED DIGITAL HEADROOMNO OFF-THE-SHELF IC-DAC CHIPS USEDUNCOVERS DETAILS USUALLY MASKED BY PCM PROCESSORS7x DIGITAL INPUTSMQA + TIDAL READY WITH OPTIONAL BRIDGE IIFULLY BALANCED FROM INPUT TO OUTPUTCOLOR TOUCH SCREEN Specifications - DirectStream DACPhysical Unit Weight22 lbs [9.97 kg]Unit Dimensions14” x 17” x 4” [ 36cm x 43cm x 10cm]Shipping Weight31 lbs [14 kg]Shipping Dimensions20.5”x 24” x 10” [52cm x 61cm x 25cm]Power requirements Input PowerModel specific 100VAC, 120VAC, or 230VAC 50 or 60HzPower Consumption30WDigital audio inputsI2S(2), Coax, XLR Balanced, TOSLINK, USB, Network Bridge slotSample Rates I2S, and USB — 44.1kHz to 352.8kHz 16bit, 24bit, DSD 64, DSD 128 (I2S DSD 256 with Sunlight update) TOSLINK – 44.1kHz to 96kHz 16bit, 24bit XLR (AES/EBU)S/PDIF (coax)– 44.1kHz to 192kHz 16bit, 24bit, DSD 64Analog Audio Output ConnectorRCA/XLR Unbalanced /Balanced (X2)Output level, low0.282 VRMS Balanced 0.141 VRMS Single EndedOutput level high, maximum2.818 VRMS Balanced 1.414 VRMS Single EndedOutput Impedance100?/200?Frequency Response20-20KHz +/- 0.25dBTHD+N @ 1KHz (full scale)<0.03%Output StagePassive audio transformer, fed by high current, high speed analog amps producing double rate DSD.Data Handling FormatPCM or DSDSample rate (PCM)44.1kHz, 48.0kHz, 88.2kHz, 96.0kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 352.8kHzWord length (PCM)16b, 18b, 20b, 24bData rate (DSD)Standard (2.8MHz) or Double (5.6MHz) DoP as well as raw DSD on I2S and USB inputsInput jitter reductioneffectively 100%, residual immeasurable. No input PLLs, FLLs.Input Processing170MHzSignal Processing50MHzSynchronous Upsampling, all inputs28.224MHzDigital Processing S/N ratio>146 dBDigital Volume ControlZero loss of precisionAnalog Conversion methodDelta Sigma (DSD) Single-bit double rateI2S Digital Input ConnectorHDMIFormatPCM or DSD. DoP on all inputs as well as raw DSD on I2S inputsUSB Digital Input ConnectorUSB “B” TypeFormatPCM or DoP v1.1 (DSD over PCM)Transfer modeAsynchronous
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